Your compassionate spirit is admirable. You’re an inspiration to me and everyone who knows you. Wishing you an amazing birthday this year and always! I know I do not often tell you how much you mean to me. On your birthday I would like to seize the opportunity to tell you that you mean the world to me, and I wouldn’t mind working hard to give you the life you deserve. Happy birthday my precious daughter.” This is your special day. Embrace your individuality and let your imagination run wild. We hope your birthday will be a canvas for beautiful and vivid memories.” It’s time to relax and put your feet up, have a glass of wine and a big slice of cake. Happy birthday! I wish everyone had a daughter like you, for they would also have a happy and content life as I do. Happy birthday darling.”

Dearest daughter, I wish you a wonderful 21st birthday. I’m pleased with how far you’ve come and I look forward to wonderful years ahead of you. Love you daughter. Fifteen years ago, Susie Jukes gave up a baby for adoption, but she has turned her life around from those darker times, and she now has an “up and coming” music career, and a stable and happy marriage with Gabe.

Unfortunately, they have suffered a few miscarriages, and she wonders if the only baby she will successfully carry to term, would be Sky, the baby she relinquished. Happy 21st birthday, my beautiful daughter. I’m really glad our paths crossed. Knowing you has brought many wonderful experiences that I delight in. I wish you the best in life I sometimes thought about Ben’s theory that our mother had never wanted children. But she had been different once. When our father was still alive” (p. 17). Alison and Ben remember the events of their childhood differently when they discuss it. How does this affect their dynamic while Alison is caring for their dying mother?

Being your mother is an honor and privilege. I’d do anything for you today and always. Happy birthday!The best gift from God is a daughter like you. As parents, we can’t be more proud of you. You’ve given us a million reasons to be thankful to God for bringing you to our family. We love you, baby girl. Happy 21st birthday, my dear daughter! In Chapter 2, Alison meets Paul at the hospital where Mavis is staying. What was your first impression of Paul and his relationship with Mavis?